Cross Country

Cross Country's Gebreyohanns Earns Trip Home

Oct 13, 2010

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – When the
Northern Arizona cross country teams travel, every race becomes a
family affair. With student-athletes representing nine states on
the squad, runners have the opportunity to race in front of family
and friends nearly once a season.

This week's trip to Terre Haute,
Ind., for the Pre-Nationals Invitational will be a homecoming for
freshman Bahlbi Gebreyohanns. The Indianapolis, Ind., native will
return to his home state to race on a course that is very familiar
to him, the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center.

"I'm really excited because at
first I didn't think I would be able to make it to Pre-Nats due to
injury, but now that I am going, I'm very happy," Gebreyohanns
said. "I saw NAU race last year at Pre-Nats and now I am racing as
a part of the team which makes me really excited."

The North Central High School
product last raced on the championship course in 2008. Because
Gebreyohanns wasn't able to compete his senior year, Saturday's 8K
race will be a chance for family and friends to see him race for
the first time in over a year.

"It is a big deal because last year
I wasn't able to race at all, but this year they will be able to
see me race for one of the best teams in the nation," Gebreyohanns
said. "It will make them happy to be able to see me out there."

Director of Track & Field and
Cross Country Eric Heins also appreciates the support the teams
receive on a weekly basis from family and friends in
attendance.

"No matter where we go, it seems
like we get a lot of support from people," Heins said. "Not only do
we get parents flying to each meet to support their kids, but when
we travel back east and to other states, we have athletes' family
and friends in attendance. It means a lot not just to the
individual, but also to the entire team when you have family there
bringing treats for everyone and showing support."

This will be the second career race
for Gebreyohanns as he made his collegiate debut at the Stanford
Invitational, completing the 8K course in a time of 25:01.

"The Stanford race was unexpected
for me because I wasn't sure how fast I could race since I only had
about a month's practice," Gebreyohanns said. "It was my first race
in over a year, so I was happy with how it went."

With top-ranked Stanford and No. 15
Arkansas in the field at the Sept. 25 race, Heins was very pleased
with how Gebreyohanns ran to a 56th-place finish.

"It was a learning experience,"
Heins said about the Stanford Invitational for Gebreyohanns. "I
think he was a little timid at the start because he hadn't raced in
over a year. It was a motivator because he got halfway through it
and thought, 'Shoot, I can run with these people!' It was
definitely the right way to race for him having been conservative
in the beginning and gaining confidence throughout."

With two months under his belt at
7,000 feet elevation, Gebreyohanns is settling in nicely at the
Mountain Campus of NAU. With his ability to handle school and
running simultaneously, the first-year runner has his eyes set on
one goal this season.

"My goal for the season is to run
24:30 in the 8K," Gebreyohanns said. "I don't know when that is
going to happen, but every race I run from now on will be to reach
that time."

With the support of his teammates,
family and friends, Gebreyohanns' goal could be attained
Saturday.